noun
gander
GAN-der/ˈɡændər/
A male goose.
The mostly white gander stands in front of the gray female goose.
Etymology
Old English gandra already meant “male goose,” so the modern meaning preserves that distinction. Its earlier history is less certain: the OED suggests it may originally have named another waterbird.
In context
it's good for the goose it's good for the gander
More examples
- A gander and two female geese swim across the pond.
- The farmer keeps three ganders in a separate pen.
- We call a male goose a gander.
Forms
gander · ganders
Similar words
- goose
- Can name either sex, while gander specifically names a male.